Mystic Tibet

The recently published April-June 2013 issue of Mandala focuses on several different aspects of pilgrimage and a variety of holy sites. “Skies of Benefit: The Path of Pilgrimage” leads readers through Tibet, China, India and Nepal, offering fascinating stories, rare photos and invaluable advice to encourage, inspire and guide future Buddhist pilgrims. The issue also includes Lama Yeshe’s teaching on the internal pilgrimage process, arguably more beneficial than “hassling with airplanes, hotels and all our heavy luggage,” and some practical advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche to prevent pilgrimage from turning into “just traveling like a tourist.”

If you’ve ever wanted to see what pilgrimage is for a teacher like Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Mystic Tibet, the 2007 documentary by Christina Lundberg, offers a priceless portrait of amazing selflessness and devotion, chronicling the experiences of a rare 2002 retreat with Rinpoche to Tibet. In celebration of Mandala’s newest issue, the Foundation Store is offering Mystic Tibet at a 40% discount.

“We are doing pilgrimage, but we have to understand the benefits. We have to understand what skies of benefit we get each time we see a statue of Buddha, a picture of Buddha. Like that, [we have to understand] what happens to this mental continuum,” Rinpoche told his students and fellow pilgrims. “Pilgrimage is to subdue one’s own mind; to use every opportunity to do the most extensive purification and to accumulate the most extensive merit so that we can have the realizations of the path.”

With more than 160 centers, projects and services around the globe, there is always news on FPMT activities, teachers and events. Mandala hopes to share as many of these timely stories as possible. If you have news you would like to share, please let us know.

It’s not too late to become a Friend of FPMT at the Basic level or higher and receive the April-June 2013 issue, featuring the complete “Skies of Benefit” article!

This intense journey uncovers the long suffering of the Tibetan people and explores the deep inner meaning of pilgrimage, which purifies the mind and creates the good heart. These pilgrims discovered more than temples and holy mountains; they touched the extraordinary potential of their minds, their own enlightened nature.

The participants made pilgrimage to many holy places, including Milarepa’s cave, Tsipri, and Reting Monastery (where Lama Tsongkhapa wrote the Lam Rim Chenmo). They did a late-night puja at the nunnery where Lama Yeshe’s former incarnation was once abbess, offered lights at the Jokhang, Lhasa’s most holy temple, chanted mantras to animals, and watched Lama Zopa Rinpoche – whose unbelievable compassion is evident in every word he utters, every smile and blessing he bestows – connect with the Tibetan people starved of teachers since the Chinese occupation. They hiked up unfathomable mountains and suffered altitude sickness. They took in the teachings of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the infinite blessings of this holy land, and their hearts were transformed. As one pilgrim commented, “A pilgrimage with Rinpoche is not sightseeing. It’s like heart-seeing.”

Mystic Tibet vividly captures the grandeur and mystery of this life-changing journey. One feels intimately a part of the experience, seeing these holy places and holy objects that seem to live and breathe, enduring the hardships and receiving the blessings right along with the pilgrims. This film is a visual and spiritual treat for the eye, the mind, and the heart. Its evocative soundtrack with music by Nawang Khechog and Mercedes Bahleda is as much a part of the film as the extraordinary landscapes, intricate icons, and devoted faces – not to mention the heroic Italian pilgrim who finished the journey on crutches!

In 1976, Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa started the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) which is an organization devoted to transmission of the Mahayana Buddhist tradition and values worldwide through teaching, meditation and community service. The FPMT is thriving with over 147 centers and projects worldwide. Please CLICK for further information on Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Filmmaker

Christina Lundberg is an award winning filmmaker who brings her extensive experience making documentary films to Mystic Tibet. Her previous work includes Discovering Buddhism, a 13 part series on Tibetan Buddhism hosted by Richard Gere and Keanu Reaves, and featuring His Holiness the Dalai Lama and other great lamas. She created a 26 part television series on Buddhism for Mongolia National Television which has run for three consecutive years to over 1.5 million viewers. Other projects include a video about The Maitreya Project which is currently translated into 9 languages and the documentary, On the Road Home, about a woman’s spiritual journey and the holy female teachers who teach her along the way.

Ms. Lundberg’s depth of understanding of Tibetan Buddhism combined with her skilled filmmaking provide a strong foundation for capturing the unique and profound dimensions of this pilgrimage and the benefits of such a holy activity with such a master as Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

Soundtrack

Music by NAWANG KHECHOG and MERCEDES BAHLEDA.

Grammy-nominee Nawang Khechog is an internationally-renowned flutist, and a former Tibetan Buddhist monk. Khechog has performed over a dozen times at Carnegie Hall. His unique background of religious training and musical experience produces a haunting and evocative soundtrack for a spiritually-transformative experience.

Tibetan religious music is an integral component of the Buddhist culture so precious to this devout land. Mystic Tibet contains sections of traditional ceremonial music performed by the monks and nuns participating in the sacred rituals led by Lama Zopa Rinpoche and recorded directly in real time. This combination of authentic ritual music along with Nawang Khechog’s unique style deepens and expands the spiritual quality of the viewers’ experience.

The most happy thing in my life, most fulfilling thing is to work for and to benefit sentient beings. Even just the mere thought to cause happiness to sentient beings, to benefit them, to free them from suffering is the BEST offering to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas. This is the best offering, the best puja; this is what pleases their holy mind most.